Killer Blonde (A Jaine Austen Mystery) by Laura Levine

Author:  Laura Levine
Series:  Jaine Austen, Writer-for-Hire (Bk 3)
ISBN:  0-7582-0163-X
271 pages

Other Books in series:  This Pen for Hire (Bk 1), Last Writes (Bk 2)

Book Description:

“A gal with a serious Ben & jerry’s habit and credits including a tome entitled “I Was Henry Kissinger’s Sex Slave” can’t afford to be too picky about employment opportunities. So when Beverly Hills socialite Sue Ellen Kingsley offers Jaine megabucks to ghostwrite a book of hostess tips, it’s time to sharpen the #2s. So what if Jaine has to take dictation from a rail-thin lady of leisure in a bubble bath? Pride doesn’t feed the cat and the dubious side benefit of this particular job is an up-close, personal view of the amorous exploits of Hollywood’s ladies-who-lunch. The only bright spot is sixteen-year-old Heidi, a girl after Jaine’s own heart. Shy, overweight, and oppressed by her step-mother, Sue Ellen, Heidi could use a friend as much as Jaine could use an ally. But everything short circuits when Jaine finds Sue Ellen floating face down in her tub, fried by her own blow dryer. Peroxided suspects abound, including a very private masseuse, a jealous nurse, a former game show hostess…even a closet blonde with a surprising secret. One of them is hiding a murderous heart behind pricey highlights, and laine’s out to expose the killer’s dark roots. Because blondes have enough fun without getting away with murder…”

MY THOUGHTS:

Another fun installment to the Jaine Austen cozy mystery series!  Ms. Levine has a knack for weaving humor into a murder mystery.  There were definitely some LOL moments throughout this book!!  Just when you think everything is all tied up, a shocking twist makes for a very surprising ending!  I think it’s great how the author can make almost every character appear to have motive to murder SueEllen Kingsley.  I still didn’t guess right!  This is such a fun series and I am looking forward to the rest!

Review: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett

Received for Review:

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
Author:  Allison Hoover Bartlett
ISBN:  9781-59448-891-7
ARC Uncorrected Proof
September 2009
288 pages

Book Description:

“Rare-book theft is even more widespread than fine-art theft. Most thieves, of course, steal for profit. John Charles Gilkey steals purely for the love of books. In an attempt to understand him better, journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett plunged herself into the world of book lust and discovered just how dangerous it can be.

Gilkey is an obsessed, unrepentant book thief who has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of rare books from book fairs, stores, and libraries around the country. Ken Sanders is the self-appointed “bibliodick” (book dealer with a penchant for detective work) driven to catch him. Bartlett befriended both outlandish characters and found herself caught in the middle of efforts to recover hidden treasure. With a mixture of suspense, insight, and humor, she has woven this entertaining cat-and-mouse chase into a narrative that not only reveals exactly how Gilkey pulled off his dirtiest crimes, where he stashed the loot, and how Sanders ultimately caught him but also explores the romance of books, the lure to collect them, and the temptation to steal them. Immersing the reader in a rich, wide world of literary obsession, Bartlett looks at the history of book passion, collection, and theft through the ages, to examine the craving that makes some people willing to stop at nothing to possess the books they love.”
 
My thoughts:
 
I loved this book much more than I anticipated!  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but Ms. Bartlett’s writing style is very engaging and captures your interest right from the start – and sustains it until the end.  I learned so much about the rare book world and I knew absolutely nothing before starting this book!  It really does make you think about becoming a collector!  Who knew that some works are with thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars?!  I had no idea!  I definitely recommend this book to any bibliophile out there.  It will make you look at books – and the people who covet them – in a whole new light!  Very good read and highly recommended! 

Many thanks to Lydia Hirt from Riverhead/Putnam Books for sending me this review copy!

Quotes on Books and Reading…

So, I was thinking about changing the quote in my header and started searching for some good quotes.  There are so many to pick from!!  I thought I would share some wonderful quotes about books and reading that I found! 
  • Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. ~ Joseph Addison ~
  • Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house. ~ Henry Ward Beecher ~
  • Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?  ~ Henry Ward Beecher ~
  • Books, I found, had the power to make time stand still, retreat or fly into the future.  ~ Jim Bishop ~
  • I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.  ~ Jorge Luis Borges ~
  • A good book is the purest essence of a human soul.  ~ Thomas Carlyle ~
  • I often feel sorry for people who don’t read good books; they are missing a chance to lead an extra life. ~ Scott Corbett ~
  • Never judge a book by its movie. ~ J. W. Eagan ~
  • Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”  ~ Charles W. Eliot ~
  • A book should teach us to enjoy life, or to endure it.  ~ Samuel Johnson ~
  • My home is where my books are. (1909)   ~ Ellen Thompson ~
What is your favorite quote regarding books and reading?

Review Policy


Some notes on my Review Policy:
Thank you for your interest in having your book spotlighted on Crazy-for-Books.  I am currently accepting books for review from authors, publishers, and publicists with a time-frame of 3-6 months.  I am always willing to do interviews, guest posts, contests/giveaways, and blog tours. 

I love to read, but I am not a fast reader!  If you have an urgent request, I will do my very best to accommodate you. 

Books I am currently accepting for review: 

  • My first book love is contemporary fiction!
  • Literary Fiction
  • Historical Fiction (last 100 years or so, especially those centered around WWII)
  • Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
  • Romantic Suspense (not straight romance)
  • Cozy Mysteries
  • Memoirs
  • NEW:  Christian Fiction and Non-Fiction, including Bible Studies and Spiritual Growth

If any of the above books fall into any genre below, I will not accept it for review.  For example, if you have a young adult fantasy book, I will not accept it for review.

    Books I am NOT accepting for review:  
    • Paranormal
    • Fantasy
    • Science Fiction
    • Non-Fiction, including Self-Help, How-To Manuals, Fitness/Nutrition, etc.
    • Romance
    • Erotica 
    • Young Adult
    • Children’s Books, including Middle Grade (Birth-Age 13ish)
    • I DO NOT read series books out of order!  
    • Please do not send me your pitch and ask me to purchase your book.

    Review Requests:

    If your book falls into one of the above categories, please fill out the form below with the pertinent details.  If I accept your novel for review, it does not guarantee that I will post a review. I do review every book I read, but I cannot guarantee that my review will be positive.  I give my honest thoughts and opinions on the book.

    About my Review Posts:

    Included in my review posts are:  book cover art, publication details (genre, page count, ISBN, etc.), my personal review with my personal star rating (from Crazy Bad to Crazy Amazing).

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    Hispanic Heritage Month – Book Giveaway!

    Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated September 15th through October 15th.

    “Hispanic Heritage Month is the period to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States and to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15th and ending on October 15.” (Wikipedia)

    FIVE winners will be selected to receive a complete set of the five following books:

    1. Zumba® by Beto Perez with Maggie Greenwood-Robinson  ISBN: 0446546127
    2. Evenings at the Argentine Club By Julia Amante ISBN: 0446581623
    3. Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz By Belinda Acosta ISBN: 044654051X
    4. Tell Me Something True By Leila Cobo ISBN: 0446519367
    5. Amigoland By Oscar Casares ISBN: 0316159697

    Here’s how to get your entry!

    • Leave a comment with an e-mail address for +1 entry (I have to be able to reach you if you win!!).  Also, tell me which of the 5 books you are most looking forward to reading!  If you do not leave your e-mail address, your entry will be disqualified!

    For extra BONUS entries, you may do the following:

    • Follow my blog for +1 extra entry (let me know that you did!)
    • Blog about this contest for +1 extra entry (leave a link so I can come check out your blog)
    • Add me to your Blog Roll for +1 extra entry (leave a link so I can come check it out!!)

    Only US/Canada Residents are eligible to win

    No P.O. Boxes!

    Contest will end on October 8! Winners will be selected on October 9!